• This Week in History •

It was a motley crew, and good natured, too, who assembled in the opera house Wednesday for the annual masquerade ball, which is a fixture with the local branch of the Great War Veterans. It was an animated scene in the clear bright light, Mr. Abriel having provided gasoline lamps. A tramp and a preacher mixed it in a game of chance, with his Satanic Majesty appearing on the scene, during the intervals of dancing. Winter was there, and tripping close behind came spring. Gypsies flirted with clowns and a Roman soldier contrasted with a 72nd Canadian Highlander. The balloon girl, a Pierot, an Indian Princess and a lady of the ballet wore pretty costumes.

January 3, 1935

The Silvery Slocan-not so silvery as it was 35-40 years ago-lost one of its old trail blazers last week when George Henderson registered his last claim. George Henderson was in the Slocan shortly after Eli Carpenter staked the Payne Mine on Carpenter Creek, George and Neil Gething put up the Arlington Hotel in Slocan City, which was successful while the local mines prospered. George Henderson also put up the first building in New Denver before the Slocan City venture.

January 4, 1945

A delightful surprise party was tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Maxwell Saturday evening by members of the United Church Board, the Women’s Association and the choir members on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple came to Nakusp 21 years ago.

December 30, 1954

Interior Tug and Transport Co. Ltd., the firm that has been granted $60,000 annual government franchise to operate the Arrow Lakes ferry service hopes to have its MV Arrow Park in service by January 15. The ferry will be 99 feet long and 30 feet wide, capable of transporting 15 cars and between 90 and 95 passengers. It will have a coffee bar and lounge accommodation.

January 7, 1965

H.J. Woolley, known to many as Harry, was buried at Turner Memorial Church in New Denver with full Knights of Pythias honors. He had come to New Denver around the turn of the century and was a familiar resident in the area ever since. He was born in 1871.

January 8, 1975

Nakusp’s New Year’s baby, Meaghan Garner, put in her appearance at 6:30 a.m., January 6 at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. She is the daughter of Gordon and Ingrid Garner of Nakusp.

January 2, 1985

An early morning fire in Edgewood January 1 completely destroyed the home of Jim Hansen. Between 4 and 5 a.m. a fire was discovered in the house as people were returning from the annual New Year’s Eve party. Crews organized quickly to attempt to save the house and contents but very little could be saved. Nobody was injured and the lone occupant of the house escaped without mishap.

January 5, 1995

A 23-year-old California man was killed December 22, after falling into a tree well while skiing in the Selkirk Mountains. The man, Rexford Owen McClure, was heli-skiing with the CMH group when he fell into the well and was covered with snow. It took CMH Galena ski guides one hour to locate the buried man, who had suffocated to death.

January 5, 2005

Nakusp RCMP continue to investigate the mysterious shooting of a 54-year-old man in his mobile home residence during the evening of Dec. 23. Police do not believe this to be a random act of violence and have indicated the shooting may have been premeditated. Police however have not speculated on a motive. The shooting marks the first such incident in the area in more than two years. The last time was in the fall of 2002, when there was a shooting in Fauquier. The victim survived the incident.